Health Human Resources Steering Committee formed to help bolster Yukon healthcare

Press Release

27/07/2023

In response to the global shortage of health and social services workers, a Health Human Resources Steering Committee, jointly led by the Government of Yukon and the Yukon Hospital Corporation, has been formed to help address the Yukon’s health human resource challenges.

The Committee is comprised of representatives from the Yukon Hospital Corporation, the Yukon Medical Association, the Yukon Registered Nurses Association, the Yukon Medical Council, Yukon First Nations, the Yukon Employees Union, Yukon University, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada and multiple Yukon government department representatives.

The Steering Committee is actively developing a Health Human Resources Strategy to explore bold and innovative solutions to address immediate health care challenges and prepare for long-term systemic needs.

The Health Human Resources Strategy will align with insights and best practices from across Canada, and focus on the pillars of retain, recruit, plan and innovate. Some priority actions are already underway and include work on:

• employee engagement;
• recruitment and retention – such as identifying recruitment and retention barriers for Indigenous employees;
• increasing capacity to train;
• licensing and entry pathways; and
• formulating a housing strategy to support employees.

The Yukon government is also collecting information on internationally educated health care providers not currently working in their field, which will inform aspects of the strategy.

The release of the Health Human Resource Strategy is anticipated this fall.

The health and wellbeing of Yukoners is the foundation of a strong and resilient territory. The new Health Human Resources Steering Committee brings together members of the Yukon’s healthcare community to strengthen our health and social service systems. I look forward to sharing our Health Human Resources Strategy later this year, which will outline our approach to retain, recruit and plan for healthcare professions to live and work across the Yukon.

Minister of Health and Social Services Tracy-Anne McPhee

The Yukon government and our health system partners understand the intensity of the health human resources situation and we are taking action to address it. Our Steering Committee will release a strategy that features bold and innovative solutions to address immediate health care challenges and prepare for long-term health care needs. We will include contributions from health and social providers including nurses, physicians, social workers and many others who have experiences and insights that are essential to shaping a resilient and healthy workforce for the Yukon.

Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services Tiffany Boyd

Our hospitals recognize the health human resource challenges in the Yukon and nationwide. Our health workforce is the backbone to delivering vital services in our communities and having Yukoners access quality health care at home. Together, we aim to better retain and recruit skilled and representative professionals in order to secure the future of health care in the Yukon.

Chair of the Yukon Hospital Corporation Board of Trustees Allan Lucier

Quick facts

• The Health Human Resource Steering Committee was established in March 2023 and has met seven times since.
• The Yukon government has representatives from multiple departments on the Steering Committee.
• Eight working groups are being established to tackle topics related to retaining staff (Indigenous Retention and Recruitment; Employee Engagement), recruiting staff (Integration Supports; Licensure), planning for staff (Data Strategy and Workforce Planning; Data Governance) and innovating (Training and Education; Digital Tools; New Health Care Roles).
• The Committee is comprised of representatives from the Yukon Hospital Corporation, the Yukon Medical Association, the Yukon Registered Nurses Association, the Yukon Medical Council, Yukon First Nations, the Yukon Employees Union, Yukon University, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, and multiple Yukon government departments including Health and Social Services, Economic Development, Community Services, Yukon Housing Corporation, and the Public Service Commission.

Media contact

Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca

Ken Hegan
Communications Analyst, Health and Social Services
867-332-8321
ken.hegan@yukon.ca

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